PHOENIX – The Milwaukee Brewers have experienced their first injury of spring training, and it could have a significant outcome on the competition at catcher.

Stephen Vogt, in good position to make the club entering camp, has a right shoulder strain that is expected to keep him out of game action for two to three weeks. Entering camp, the Brewers had a decision to make between Vogt and Jett Bandy, who is out of minor-league options, to share catching duties with Manny Piña.

“He has no throwing for about a week,” manager Craig Counsellsaid of Vogt. “He’ll start throwing again (after that).”

Vogt said he felt something "funky" in his shoulder during a drill last week but thought to himself, "Whose arm doesn't hurt this time of year? So, I just chalked it up, caught in the game on Friday and felt fine."

"The soreness kind of crept up and the it got to a point where I had to stop throwing and we thought it was necessary to get an MRI," he added. "I'm thankful that it's not something more serious than just a strain. That's what I'm hanging on to.

"The MRI just showed some damage. I just kind of asked what it was and they said I sprained my shoulder. Any time you take an MRI of a shoulder on a guy like me who's been around for a while, I'm sure there's stuff in there, some old stuff, as well. The good news is the doctor seemed optimistic that it should only be a week or two before I can get back into a game."

The injury is particularly cruel for Vogt, 33, who spent the winter building arm strength and working on his throwing mechanics after a tough year throwing out runners. He threw out only three of 66 runners (4.5%), including his time with Oakland early in the season, and just one of 28 (3.6%) after the Brewers claimed him off waivers June 25.

To avoid salary arbitration, and a possible non-tender, Vogt signed a $3.06 million deal for 2018 that is not guaranteed. That means the club could cut him and pay only a fraction of that salary, but there is no indication now that might happen.

"Obviously, I'm very disappointed," he said. "I came into spring training feeling very strong, throwing-wise especially. My arm was in really, really good shape. Unfortunately, I had something go wrong last week and it started barking at me and unfortunately, I have some issues in there.

"I felt like I made a dedication to that all winter. I was feeling good and the throw I ended up hurting (the shoulder) on was a good throw. It's kind of the same old news for me, unfortunately. As soon as things start to look good, there's a blip in the road.

"That's been my career and it will never change so I'm going to beat it like I always have, be the same guy I always have and work my butt off to get back on the field."

Whether Vogt will be able to return in time to see enough game action to open the season on the active roster is the main issue.

"If there is a silver lining to this, it's that the timing is good. We still have three-plus weeks of games once I'm back (throwing) in a week or so. Obviously, I'm not thrilled by any means. I'm not happy but I'm going to remain optimistic. That's who I am. I worked way too hard this winter to let this be it. I'm going to be fine."

As for how this might affect the catching situation, Counsell said, “We won’t know until we know when he’s going to play. When he’s able to play becomes significant.

“He worked very hard (over the winter) and he knew what was ahead of him this spring, and his challenge. Now, it’s frustrating for him. But, hopefully, he can come back and still have time to get ready.”

Nelson progressing: While other candidates for the Brewers' starting rotation have begun ramping up their Cactus League innings with the calendar turning to March, Jimmy Nelson remains on a closely monitored throwing program.

"He’s kind of on the tedious throwing program, so you just let it go and every once in a while you hear a longer distance he’s throwing," Counsell said. "But he’s doing great."

Nelson, who underwent an extensive surgical procedure on his right shoulder last September after injuring it diving back into first base, remains limited to throwing off flat ground. He won't be allowed to graduate to a mound until sometime after the Brewers have opened the season.

"We’re still a ways away from (throwing off a mound)," said Counsell. "End of spring training is probably when we would have an update. By then we’ll be well into a throwing program, six or seven weeks into a throwing program."

Counsell has identified Chase Anderson,Zach Davies and Jhoulys Chacín as the team's top three starters at this point with Brent Suter, Junior Guerra, Brandon Woodruff, Yovani Gallardo, Wade Mileyand Aaron Wilkerson the others competing for the final two spots.

There also remains the possibility the team could add a pitcher from the outside. Free agents Jake Arrieta, Alex Cobb and Lance Lynn all remain unsigned but would provide an immediate upgrade if the team decides to make a play.

The Brewers haven't announced when they expect Nelson to return to the rotation but somewhere around the all-star break in mid-July would appear to be a good possibility.

In the meantime, Nelson will continue grinding along with no fanfare with an eye on being a difference-maker in what the Brewers hope will be a competitive second half of the season.

"Everything’s perfect," Counsell said. "He’s not missed a day and we started the throwing program before we thought (he would). So he’s doing great."

Nice to see you again: Milwaukee faced Japanese sensation Shohei Ohtaniin his major-league debut last weekend at the Angels' facility in Tempe, and at least some Brewers will get a chance to face the right-hander again Friday in Maryvale.

The Brewers will host the Angels in a "B" game that's scheduled to go seven innings if played in the main stadium. Milwaukee then hosts the Seattle Mariners in a Cactus League game at 2:05 p.m.

"We have extra pitching, they have some extra pitching that they want to get through. So it works out," Counsell said. "At this point you start looking for innings for your starters; they’re getting 2-3 innings into their appearances.

"So we’ve got innings to cover."

Ohtani's debut was covered extensively by both American and Japanese media, and the Brewers got to him for two hits, two runs and a walk in 1 1/3 innings. Jonathan Villar opened the game with a double to center, and Keon Broxton hit a solo homer off Ohtani in the second inning.

A group of Brewers minor-leaguers also will play a game against a team from Taiwan at 1 p.m. Friday on one of the back fields at Maryvale.